Bocharov Ruchei, Sochi, August 24, Interfax - Russia is willing to open an exhibition dedicated to Russian spiritual art titled "From Icon-painting to Avant-garde" in Vatican in 2018 in a reciprocal gesture to the exhibition of Vatican masterpieces in the Tretyakov Art Gallery, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

"Russian Christians are particularly grateful for this to you and Pope Francis. And great thanks from all art connoisseurs for organization of a Vatican museum exhibition at the Tretyakov Art Gallery," Putin said at a meeting with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

Russia is preparing a reciprocal action, that is, a Russian art spiritual heritage exhibition from icon-painting to avant-garde, the president said. "With your assistance, we are ready to hold it in 2018," the head of state said.

Russia and Vatican have different aspects of diplomacy from the political to the cultural, which allow for such events to be held, the Vatican secretary of state said.